Stenciling machine



' Aug. 17 1926. I

L. A. THATCHER srsncnme MACHINE Filed Sept. 24. 1924 Z-Sheets-Sheat 1 Aug. 17 ,1926. 1,596,032 L. A. THATCHER STENCILING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24. 1924 Hiram rarer) QHEB, {17F BELLEVILLE, JERSEY, ASSXGNOR EEO UNIDERWQQD TYEEWEITEB 'CQEK?ANY, @E NEW 1 0133, N. Y-, A. CUMUIBIATION 011 DELAWARE.

STENGILZNG Application filed September '24, 1924. Serial No. '89,?3.

This invention relates generally to stenciling machines, and more particularly to means for distributing or spreadin ink around the inner periphery of the etched cyl- B inder.

Une of the features of the invention involves lacing the ink fountain entirely outside 0' the stencil cylinder so that it may be readily filled, cleaned or inspected, provision being made for the flow of ink from the fountain to the bristles of a distributing brush interior of the stencil cylinder, and

by means of which it may then be spread upon the cylinder wall. I

Another feature is the provision of means for mounting the distributing brush within the cylinder, so that it may be either removed bodily as a unit from the machine, when out of use, or swung to a position so as to remove 2 the bristles from contact with the wall of the cylinder, and secured in such position during the ordinary operation of the machine. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a brush carrier or housing such that the brush proper may be readily removed from said housing for cleaning purposes.

A further feature is the provision of a stencil cylinder which may be readily and quickly removed from the machine without the necessity of removing or disturbing certain parts of the ink feeding mechanism.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section'through a conventional stenciling machine showing the ink distributor and ink reservoir in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a view of the ink distributing brush .and its associated parts.

Figure 3 is a group view showing the inkbrush and its carrier spread out, and in the order of their assembly.

Figures l, 5 and 6 are detail views of the distributing brush and the brush carrier.

Figure 7 1s a perspective view of the brush carrier or housing with portlons Y struction thereof.

broken away so as to show the interior coni Figure 1s a transverse section on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 8. v

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure. 1 and shows certain details of the dlstributing mechanism.

F1gure 11 is adetail view clone of the end spiders of the stencil cylinder and taken on the line 11,11 of Figure 1. I

For illustrative purposes, 1 have shown in the accompanying drawings, my ink distributmg device applied to a conventional form of stencil machine in which a perforated hollow cylinder or drum is covered w1 th an ink blanket, the paper to be stenciled bemg run between a stenciLsheet and a pres-' sure roll, the ink being applied to the intenor of the cylinder and taken up by an ink blanket upon the exterior wall thereof. 7

A machine of this character is disclosed in the application of Edward G. Rowley, Serial No. 721,982, filed June 24, 1924.

Referring to the drawings, and with particularity to Figures 1 and 8 thereof, 10 7 designates a frame, which includes end standards 11 and 12. The upper portion of the standard 11 is formed with a collar 13, the barrel 13 of which receives and provides a mounting for a stationary central shaft 14, which extends horizontally throughout the length of the stencil cylinder 15 of-the machine, the shaft being secured within the collar by-any suitable means such as a set screw 14:. An ink blanket b is wrapped about the cylinder 15, the end of the blanket being secured within the usual channel 0 "formed in the cylinder wall by means well known in the art. One end of the cylinder 15 is provided-with a spider 16, having a central hub 17, mounted to re.- volve upon the'shaft 14, and the cylinder is secured against lateral movement by means of a latch 18 pivotally mounted at 19 upon the upper end of the standard 11 and havmg a finger 20 held into engagement with an annular groove 21 in the hub 17, by means of a suitable spring 22 acting against the under side of a finger-piece 23 of the latch 18. The outer end of the cylinder may be mounted to revolve upon roller 24 carried by a yoke-shaped member 25 of the frame, in the usual manner, and a handle 26 provides means whereby the cylinder may be rotated. An annular flange 15' extends around the inner'wall of the cylinder 15 adjacent the outer end thereof. A sleeve 27 is mounted for telescoping movement upon the shaft 14 and is provided, at-a point approximately intermediate its ends, with a yoke-shaped bracket 28, encircling the sleeve 27 and having a pair of oppositely-disposed ears 29 between which a ever 30 is pivoted upon a threadedpin 31 secured by a suitable lockout 32.

It will be noted that the lever '30: has two arms, one arm 33 of which extends toward the spider 16 and terminates in lugs 34 and 35 which are directed outwardly from the body of the lever 30 and then bent at right angles and secured to the inner side walls 36 of a housing or brush carrier 37 by means of rivets 36, or in any other manner found desirable. As clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the brush carrier is substantially rectangular in Ian and comprises a box-like structure inclu ing a top wall 38, having an elongated perforation 39 therein, the purpose of which will appearlater in the de scription. L-shaped members 40, extend' across the interior of the carrier 37 adjacent the ends thereof, and cleats 41 are spaced from and underlie the members so as to provide guideways for receiving the head 42 of a brush 43 provided with bristles 44. Thus, it will be noted that a trough 42 is formed by the top of the head 42 of the brush and the side walls of the brush carrier extending thereabove. A gate 45 is arranged to drop into a slot 46 provided adjacent the outer end of the brush carrier in t] .e top wall 38 behind the-adjacent end of the brush head 42, when said brush iswithin the carrier.

wedge-shaped come tightly wedged in the slot 46 and thereby retain itself inplace. The head 42 of the brush 43 is cut away or notched out as at 47 to provide a .pair of channels adjacent the interior side walls 36 of the brush carrier 37, and the lower side walls of the carrier are "inclined downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 48, so that the lower edges thereof are in contact with the sides of the bristles 44. A perforation 49 through the head 42 communicateswith the bristles. A pair of outstanding ears 37 carried upon the inner end of the brush carrier 37 act as a stop against the annular flange 15' to limit the outward movement of the brush 43 and also as a stop to prevent the brush or carrier .The gate may be slightly in, cross section so as to be-' Leashes from becoming injured against the sides of the channel 0 when the ink distributor is moved about within the cylinder, in a manner later described. The brush may be quickly removed for cleaning or for substituting a new one simply by removing the gate 45 and slidin the brush outwardly toward the open en of the brush carrier as will be readily understood.

The other arm 50 of the lever 30 extends toward the outer end of the stencil cylinder and is characterized by a right-angular portion 51 bent to provide finger-pieces 52 and 53, respectively, overlying and underlying the sleeve 27, the latter carryinga perforated ear'54 upon one side thereof, and a tension spring 55, attached at one end to said ear 54 and at the other end to a perforation in the finger-piece 53, normally causes the lever to be rotated about its pivot pin 31 to press the bristles 44 against the inner wall of the stencil cylinder. A detent or latch 56 carried by the sleeve 27 is formed with a hooked end 57 to engage the under edge of the arm 33 upon pressure applied to the finger-piece 52 to move the brush carrier 37 to the position indicated in dotted lines at 58 in Figure 1.' A stop lug 59 carried upon the upper edge of the arm 33 engages against the under side of the sleeve 27, and thereby limitsthe throw of the brush carrier 37 to the-position shown in dotted lines mentioned above. A knob 60 is secured to the outer end of the sleeve 27 and provides means whereby motion may be imparted to the brush for the purpose of distributing ink around the interior wall of the cylinder.

pon the standard 11 there is secured, by means ofsuitable screws, a verticallydisposed bracket 62, the upper end of "which is directed at right angles to provide a shelf 63 upon which an ink container or reservoir 64 is fastened by means of a screw 65. The reservoir has communication to the interior of the stencil cylinder through a piston cylinder 66 contained within the reservoir 64, thence througha tubular channel or duct 67 formed in the adjacent end of the Sta-- tionary shaft 14, and then through a spout '68 which ,is disposed downwardly and at right angles "from the channel or duct 67, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 A cover 69 is secured to the upper end of the reservoir 64 by any suitable meanssuch as screws 70, and 1t. willbe'noted that the cover is provided with a filler cap 71' and a depending. boss 72 having a vertical bore 73 arranged to receive a piston rod 74.- A piston 75 carried by the lower end of the rod 74 fits within the piston cylinder 66 and the upper end of the rod carries a button 76. A pocket 77 formed in the boss 72 provides a space around the upperportion of the rod 74, and a tension spring encircling the rod acts against the under surface of the button 76 and the floor of the pocket 77 to cause said piston to move toward the open end of the cylinder. A pin 74 passing through the rod 74 engages the lower portion of the boss 72 to limit the upward movement of the piston to theposition indicated in full lines in Figures 1 and 8. Anopening or slit 78 formed in the Wall of the piston cylinder 66 and communicating with the interior of the reservoir 64 permits ink to flow from the container into the piston cylinder and thence to the duct 67.

lln order to permit the stencil cylinder to be removed from the machine, the hub 17. and the spider 16 .are cut out as at 79, so that after the sleeve 27 and its associated parts have been removed and the latch 18 operated .to cause the finger 20 to become disengaged from the annular groove 21, the

stencil cylinder may be moved laterally along the shaft 14 toward the outer end thereof and the cut-(out portions above mentioned provide suflicient clearance around the spout 68 to permit the spider 16 and the hub .17 to pass over the spout without interference therewith. I

lln operation, the cap 71 is removed and the reservoir 64 filled with ink, after which the knob 60 is grasped and the brush carrier moved to the position indicated in full lines in Figure 1, that is, to place the trough 42 vertically beneath the spout 68. In the meantime, the ink has flowed through theslit 78 in the cylinder 66 and into the duct 67, the heavy consistency of the ink preventing it from flowing through the spout until forced. The button 76 is then depressed to drive the piston downwardly, thus causing the ink contained within the cylinder 66 and duct 67 to be projected from the spout 68 and into the trough 42' of thebrush carrier 37. The ink then spreads over the head 42 of the brush 43 and downwardly through the channels formed by the side walls 36 and'the notched-outportions 47 of the brush head, and is then directed to the bristles 44 through the medium of the downwardly and inwardly inclined side walls 48 of the brush carrier 37. Some of the ink may find its way to the interior of the brush through't-he perforation 49. Now, the knob 60 may be moved back and forth and turned axially in one direction and then in theother so as to cause the bristles 44, to reach all parts of the interior surface of the stencil cylinder, thus covering the same with a uniform and well distributed coating of ink.

When out of use the whole brush structure, including the brush 43, the brush.

carrier 37, the lever 30, the sleeve 27 and the knob 60, may be readily removed, as a unit, from the stencil cylinder by simply shifting the brush to its inoperative posicarrying tion with a stencil cylinder, of a hollow shaft extending through the cylinder and on which it rotates, an ink reservoir fast to said shaft and in connectionwith the interior thereof, an ink feeding spout com-' municating from said shaft to the interior of the cylinder, pressure means for caus- 111g ink to flow from the reservoir through said spout, and an ink distributing device including a sleeve mounted for telescoping and rotary movement upon the shaft, said device including a brush carrying' arm pivoted upon said sleeve, a brush housing carried upon the free end of said arm, a brush including a head having openings thereon and bristles, said head being secured I within the housing and having an inkpocket formed thereabove, wherehy'to re ceive ink from said spout and permit said ink to flow downwardly through said openings and onto the bristles.

2. In a stencilingmachine, the combination with a stencil cylinder, of a hollow spindle extending through the cylinder and on which it rotates, an ink reservoir fast to said s indle and in connection with the interior. t ereof, an ink feeding spout communicating from said spindle to the interior of the cylinder, means ,for causing ink to flow from said reservoir andthrough the spout, a sleeve mounted for telescoping and rotary movement upon said spindle, and a lever pivoted upon the sleeve, said lever ineluding a brush-carrying arm and a spring actuated arm, said spring actuatedarm being effective to move said brush carrying arm toward the inner wall of the cylinder.

3.111 a stenciling machine, in combination, a stencil cylinder, a hollow shaft throng the cylinder and" on which it roa brush arm and a spring actuatedarm for a lever pivoted upon 1 moving said brush carrying arm toward the inner wall of the cylinder, and means for holding said brush carrying arm away from the-wall of the cylinder against the action of said spring actuated arm, when the ink distributing device is out of use.

swung toward the inner wall of the cylinder,

a housing fixed to the free end of said arm and -a brush received in said housing and including bristles anda head having per tions thereof cut away to provide passage ways adjacent theuinner side walls of said housing, the lower side walls of said housing being inclined downwardly and inwardly v to engage the adjacent sides of the bristles.

the upper ortion of said housing extending above the ead of the brush to provide a trough therearound, so that link received lILSflld trough from the nozzle flows downwardly through said and thence over said inclined walls bristles.

5. In a stenciling machine, in combinapassageways tion, a stencil cylinder, an annular ,flange around the interior of said cylinder adjacent the outer end thereof, a hollow shaft extending through the cylinder and von which it rotates, an ink reservoir fast to said sliaft and connecting with the interior thereof, an ink'feeding spout having communication from said shaft to the interior of the cylinder, means for forcing ink from the reseryoir and through said spout, an ink distributing device comprising a sleeve mounted-for telesco ing and rotary movement upon said. sha a lever pivoted upon the sleeve, said lever including an arm arranged -to swing toward the inner wall of the cylinder, a housing fixed to thefree end of said arm, a brush received in said housing and including bristles and a head having portions thereof cutaway to provide passa1geways ad'acent the inner side walls of said ousing, t e lowerside wallsof said housing being inclined downwardl and in-i wardly to engage the adjacent si es of the bristles, the upper portion of said housing extendin above the head ofthe brush so as to provide a trough therearound, and a pair of outwardly directed ears carried by said housing, so that, when said ink distributor is rotated adjacent the outer end of the and onto the V tion with a stencil drum, of an ink-distr1bucylinder, said ears engage said annular flangp to limit the outward movement of the brus 6.'In a stenciling machine, in combination,-a stencil cylinder, a shaft extendingthrough the cylinder and on which it rotates, a sleeve telescoping on said shaft, a

telescoping on said shaft and movable longi-' tudinally and angularly thereabout, a bracket on said sleeve, a lever pivoted to said bracket and including a pair of oppositely-directed: arms, a brush carrying housing fixed to the free end of one of said arms, spring means associated with the free end of the other of said arms, so as to cause said brush carrying housing to hold its brush in yielding engagement with the inner wall of said cylinder during an inking operation, and a detent for holding said first-- 'mentioned arm away from said wall when the inking operation is completed.

8. In a stenciling machine, the combinator movable within the'drum and including a pivoted arm, a housing fixed to the free end of said arm, a brush slidin'gly received in said housing, 'means for retaining said brush in position within said housing, and means-for operating said arm, so as to cause the brush to move about the interior of the drum in contact with the surface thereof.

9. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a stencil drum, of an ink-distributor movable within said drum and including a pivoted arm, a housing fixed to the free end of said arm, runways extending within theinterior of said housing, a brush received upon said runways, means for securing said brush in position withinthe housing, and means for operatin said arm so as to move said brush about t e interior of the drum in contact with the wall thereof.

10. In astenciling machine, the combine tion'with a stencil drum, of an ink-distributor movable within said drum, said'distributor including a box-like housing, a pair of oppositely-disposed side walls depending from said housing, runways carried-by sai side walls upon the inner faces thereof, a brush-head received by said runways and including. bristles projecting be 0nd the lower edges of said depending side walls,

li ll tor including a box-like housing,

means engaging the head of said brush to retain the same within said housing, and means for moving said distributor about the interior of the drum so as to cause the brush to reach all the parts of the useful. surface thereof.

11. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a stencil drum, of an ink-distributor movable within said drum, said distributor includin a box-like housing, a pair of oppositely-disposed side walls depending from said housing and inclined inwardly and downwardly, runways carried upon the inner faces of said side walls, a brush-head received by said runways and including bristles projecting beyond the lower edges of said depending side walls and in contact with the inclined portions thereof, and a latch-piece carried by saidhousing and positioned behind one end of said brushhead to retain the brush within the housing,

12. in a stenciling machine, the combination with a stencil drum, of an ink-distributor movable within said drum, said dhtribua pair of oppositely-disposed side walls depending from said housing and inclined inwardly and downwardly, runways carried upon'the inner faces of said side walls. a brush-head received by said runways and including bristles projecting beyond the lower edges of said depending side walls and in contact with the inclined portions thereof, said brush-- head having its side edges cut away to provide passageways with the adjacent inner walls of the housing, and means for securing said brush within the housing.

18. in a stenciling machine, the combination with a stencil drum. of an ink-distributor movable within said drum. said distributor ineluding a'box-lilze housing, a pair of oppositely-disposed side walls depending from said housing and inclined inwardly and downwardly, runways carried upon the inher faces of said side walls. a brush-head rec'eived bysaid runways and ncluding bristles projecting beyond the lower edges of said depending side walls and in contact with the inclined portions thereof, said brush-head having edges cut away to provide passageways with the adjacent inner walls of the housing, said housing also having a slot adjacent the outer edge thereof and extending parallel therewith ,between the side walls, and a gate arranged to be received in said slot to retain said brush within the housing.

M. In a stenciling machine, in combination, a rotatable drum, a hollow shaft extending through the drum and on which it rotates, said shaft having an opening therein communicating with the interior of said drum, an ink reservoir fixed to said shaft exterior of the drum, a cylinder within the reservoir, a piston within said cylinder, and an hub forming a part of operating handle extending from the piston: to the exterior of the reservoir, whereby said piston may be operated to cause ink to flow from the reservoir and through said opening of the hollow shaft.

15. In a stenciling rnachine, in combinatron, a rotatable drum, a hollow shaft extending through the drum and on which it rotates, said shaft having an opening thereinv connecting with the interior of said drum, an ink reservoir fixed to said shaft and supported exteriorly of said drum, a relatively minute cylinder within the reservoir and having a port in the side wall thereof and communicating with said reservoir, a pumping piston within the cylinder, and an operating rod extending from the piston to the exterior of the reservoir, so that a relative minute quantity of ink flowing from said reservoir and into said cylinder is expelled from said opening of the hollow shaft upon full operation of said rod.

16. In a stenciling machine, in combination, a rotatable drum, a hollow shaft extending through the drum and on which it rotates, said shaft having a spout communieating from said hollow shaft to the interior of the drum, an ink reservoir fixed to the shaft and exterior of the drum, a cylinder within the reservoir and having the side 95 wall thereof cut away to provide a portcommunicating from said cylinder to the interior of the reservoir, a piston within said cylinder, an operating rod extending from the piston to the exterior of the cylinder, and N0 resilient means for normallyholding said piston in suchposition as to permit ink to flow through the port and into said cylinder.

17; In a stenciling machine, in combination, a rotatable drum, a hollow shaft ex- 195 tending through the drum and on which it rotates, said shaft having an ink spout corninunicating from said hollow shaft to the interior of the drum, a-nink reservoir fixed to p the shaft and ext rior of the drum, a eylin- 110 der within the re ervoir, said cylinder having the side all thereof cut-away to provide aport communicating, from said cylin-' der to theinteriorof the reservoifi-iafpiston within the cylinder and capable' of covering said portwhen moved inwaidly of the cylin- 'der, an operating rod extending from the piston to the exterior of the reservoir, resilientnieans for moving said piston toward the outer end of the cylinder so as to un cover the port, and stop means for arresting such. movement so as to-limit the degree of openingnf Said port. i

l8.'lln' a stenciling machine, in combination, a shaft having'a passageway therein, an ink feeding spout projecting from the side thereof, a stencil drum, and a spider, I said drum and mounted to revolve upon the shaft, said spider and hub having portions thereof cut away adjamimosa cent said shaft so as to provide sufiicient a part of said drum and mounted to revolve clearance aroundsaid spout to permit said upon the shaft, said spider having an elonw cylinder to be moved from the machine longated perforation therein and said hubcut gitudinally of the shaft. away so as to provide sufiicienjt clearance to 5 19. In a stenciling machine, in combinapermit said spider and hub to clear the spout, tion, a hollow shaft, an ink-feeding spout when the drum is moved longitudinally of projecting from the side thereof, a stencil the shaft.

drum, and a spiderincluding a hub forming LINDEN A". THATCHER. 

